How to Add or Remove Chat Button on Taskbar in Windows 11

Wondering how to add or remove the Chat button on taskbar in Windows 11 on your PC?

Windows 11 brings group chats and calls right to your fingertips (thank you, Microsoft). The Chat icon on the taskbar features a camera inside a cartoon speech bubble and makes the Teams experience native to Windows 11 users. 

This feature however is a toned-down version of Teams, built for people who want to use the platform for personal communication instead of professional meetings. It cuts out the complexities of traditional Teams – essentially on tools you wouldn’t use outside work.

Further, even though the Chat button is displayed by default on the taskbar, you can remove and re-add it as you please. In this guide, we will walk you through the methods of doing so in detail, both as an administrator and a standard user.

Let’s get started!

1. Remove the Chat Button Directly from Taskbar.

The first method involves removing the Chat button directly from the taskbar. All that you need to do is right-click on the chat icon and select Hide from taskbar from the list of options available. 

However, this method does not allow the users to add the Chat icon back to the taskbar. If you wish to add it back, proceed with the next method below.

2. Modify Windows Settings.

Another easy method of performing the task under consideration is via Windows Settings directly. 

However, the users on your computer that do not have administrator rights will also be able to use this method to add or remove the Chat button from the Taskbar. In case multiple users are using your PC and you do not want them to customize any aspects of it, use either the Group Policy Editor or Windows Registry as described in the methods mentioned below.

Here is how you can use Windows Settings to customize your taskbar:

  1. Press Windows + I keys simultaneously on your keyboard to open Windows Settings. 
  2. Select Personalization from the left panel.
  3. Now locate and click on Taskbar in the right pane.
Add or Remove Chat Button on Taskbar in Windows 11
  1. In the next window, turn the toggle against Chat on or off. 
Add or Remove Chat Button on Taskbar in Windows 11

This should make the desired changes in no time.

3. Modify Windows Registry.

The Windows Registry is a database of low-level settings used by Windows applications. It allows programs to access computer resources and provides a place where you can store your customized settings for the operating system.

Information about program and process components is stored in the Windows Registry as Registry keys. By modifying these keys, you can customize the system.

Here is how you can use Windows Registry to add/remove the Chat button: 

  1. Press Windows + R keys simultaneously to open a Run dialogue box.
  2. Inside the text field of the dialogue box, type ‘regedit‘ and hit Enter to open Windows Registry.
  1. Once you are inside the Registry Editor, navigate to the location mentioned below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
  1. With the Advanced key selected, locate TaskbarMn in the right pane and double-click on it.
  2. To remove the Chat icon from your Taskbar, type 0 under Value data. If you want to enable it, type 1 under Value data and hit Enter.
Add or Remove Chat Button on Taskbar in Windows 11
  1. Close the Registry Editor and restart your PC to save the changes you just made.

By following the steps mentioned above, you should add or remove the Chat button on taskbar in Windows 11 on your PC.

4. Try Using CleanMyPC.

The steps in this guide may not work because your computer may have corruption errors that stop certain functions from working. There is a simple solution to this scenario, so do not be concerned. 

CleanMyPC will automatically scan your computer for issues, identify them, and try to resolve them.

Install CleanMyPC on your PC

Due to its wide array of system maintenance tools, CleanMyPC fixes not only this issue but also all other PC problems, such as sluggish performance and slow boot times. 

All that you need to do is install CleanMyPC and run a scan using it. It will take care of the rest!


 Try CleanMyPC Now!


5. Modify Group Policy Editor.

The Group Policy Editor is a feature in Windows that helps advanced users control the working environment of Windows.

Information governing Windows programs and processes is stored in the Group Policy Editor in the form of policies. Advanced users modify the relevant policies to make desired changes, which is exactly what we will do in this method.

In order to use the Group Policy Editor to make the required changes, follow these steps:

  1. Press Windows + R keys simultaneously to open a Run dialogue box.
  2. Inside the text field of the dialogue box, type ‘gpedit.msc‘ and hit Enter to open Group Policy Editor.
  1. In the newly launched window, navigate to the location mentioned below.
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Chat
  1. Now locate and double-click on Configures the Chat icon on the taskbar policy in the right pane.
Add or Remove Chat Button on Taskbar in Windows 11
  1. Select Disabled to remove it and Enabled to add the chat button.

These steps should add/remove Chat icon on your taskbar.

FAQ: How to Remove the Chat Icon From Your Windows 11 for All Users?

In case your computer is used by several users and you wish to remove the Chat icon for all of them simultaneously, Windows Registry allows you to do so. 

Here is all that you need to do:

  1. Press Windows + R keys simultaneously to open a Run dialogue box.
  2. Inside the text field of the dialogue box, type ‘regedit‘ and hit Enter to open Windows Registry.
  3. Once you are inside the Registry Editor, navigate to the location mentioned below.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
  1. Right-click on the Windows key and select the New > Key option.
  2. Rename this key as Windows Chat and double-click on it.
  3. Now right-click anywhere in the right pane and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value option.
  4. Rename this value as ChatIcon.
  5. Double-click on ChatIcon and under Value data, type 3 to remove the chat icon for all users in Windows 11. 

Hopefully, following these steps will allow you to make the required changes in no time.

This brings us to the end of our guide on ways to add or remove the Chat button on taskbar in Windows 11. We tried walking you through all the steps in detail and hope that one of the methods mentioned above did the trick for you. In case you still have any confusion about the methods, please let us know in the comment section below!

If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂

Author

  • Zainab Falak

    Zainab Falak is a staff writer for Saint and an expert in Microsoft Windows, having authored more than 200 posts. She has a Bachelors in Actuarial Sciences and her passion for computers extends to exploring various aspects, from UI customization to the Windows registry and exploring error codes. Twitter LinkedIn

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